As the light of the high-grade artifact filled the room, the murmurs among the other adventurers grew louder. Lucian didn't look back, but he couldn't help a grim thought: Look at all these hungry people...
..
Lucian waited by the counter, his mind racing. A few minutes later, the heavy door behind the desk creaked open. Lykee appeared, her expression uncharacteristically formal.
"Mr. Lucian, the Guild Master has requested your presence," she said. "May I guide you?"
The Master? Lucian thought, his stomach doing a nervous flip. Why me? Did I do something wrong?
Viera stepped forward, a hopeful smile on her face. "May I come? He's with me, after all."
Lykee looked at Lucian. "Is she with you?"
"Absolutely not," Lucian said flatly.
Viera's smile vanished instantly, her jaw dropping in offense, but Lykee was already turning away. "Well then, let's go."
They climbed to the second floor. The noise of the guild faded, replaced by the quiet, polished wood of the upper hallway. "May I ask why he called for me?" Lucian whispered.
"I can't tell you that," Lykee replied softly. "But don't worry, he means no harm. Just... a word of advice? Don't be cocky in front of him." She stopped at a heavy oak door and knocked. "We're here! Good luck!"
Before Lucian could even say "Wait," she had vanished back down the stairs. Left alone, Lucian took a deep breath, gripped the brass handle, and pushed the door open.
The office was cozy but commanding. Two large windows framed the room, a massive black door stood at the back, and a red carpet added a splash of color beneath a pair of long leather couches. A man sat on the left couch, his head resting in his palms in a posture of deep thought.
As he looked up, Lucian felt the weight of the man's presence. He was in his early forties, his face a map of small, silver scars. A thick beard framed a stern mouth, and his dark, piercing eyes seemed to see right through Lucian. He was built like a fortress—broad shoulders and thick muscles that spoke of decades of combat. He wore a heavy wool coat over a scarred leather vest, looking every bit the warrior-turned-leader.
"Good afternoon, Master," Lucian said, keeping his voice humble. "I am Lucian. It is an honor to meet you."
He noticed his monster remains scattered across the table between the couches, carefully sorted by type.
"Come in. Sit," the man said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble.
"Y-yes, sir." Lucian sat across from him, feeling small in the presence of Everett Ciattain.
"I am Everett," the Master began. "Do you know why you're here?"
"Honestly? No..." Lucian admitted.
Everett sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose as if nursing a headache. "These remains... they are incredibly rare. These Red Ruby Eyes come from a Bloody Tarantula—a Rank B nightmare. These furs and claws? A Wild Brown Bear. Neither of these should be anywhere near the outer slopes of the Great Mountain. Tell me, boy—where did you find them?"
Are they really that rare? Lucian wondered. I saw them all the time. "I found them in the Core Zone," Lucian answered. "That's where they usually live, isn't it?"
Everett stopped massaging his eyes and stared at him, looking genuinely tired. "What were you doing in the Core Zone? Even the Magic Towers don't enter that place without a small army."
Lucian scratched his head, feeling a bit sheepish. "Well, you know the tale of the Legendary Staff... I got a bit thrilled by the idea."
"That damn tale," Everett muttered. "Did you find it?"
"No. I spent three months looking, found nothing, and gave up. These were just the things I brought back with me."
"So it was a fool's errand," Everett said, though his eyes narrowed with a new kind of respect. "I brought you here because the value of these items is skyrocketing. If we handled this at the public counter, the market would descend into chaos. Nobles, mages, and sorcerers would be at each other's throats for these eyes. We needed to disclose the price in private."
Lucian nodded. "Can you explain why they're so valuable? I didn't realize they were worth so much."
"The Ruby Eyes are a high-level mana medium," Everett explained, gesturing to the gleaming red orbs. "Artisans use them to power elite artifacts. The nails of the tarantula can be forged into blades of incredible sharpness—the Dwarves would kill for a chance to work with them. A single pair of eyes is currently worth 15 Gold coins, and rising."
Lucian's eyes widened, but Everett wasn't finished.
"The Wild Brown Bear is a hybrid of bear and wolf. The fur is as strong as a shield but light as a feather, and it's naturally resistant to the lethal cold of the Northern Frostreach. And these claws? They can't be melted by normal fire. You'd need a Smith with the bloodline of the Fire Goddess just to shape them. The fur alone is worth 27 Gold coins, and the heavy claws are 12."
Lucian's jaw nearly hit the floor. "That's... that's a lot."
"It is a fortune," Everett agreed. "The Guild is willing to buy them from you. You'll also receive a massive boost in ranking points. What is your decision?"
Lucian went quiet for a moment, thinking of his future travels. "I'll keep a few things for myself—a pair of eyes, some claws, and enough fur for a coat. I'll sell the rest."
Everett nodded, pulling a wooden abacus from a shelf. "Fair enough. Let's see... that leaves us with 32 eyes of varying sizes. 16 small, 10 medium, and 6 large." He began clicking the beads across the rows with practiced speed. "At current market rates... that's 244 Gold coins for the eyes alone."
"Now, for the claws..."